Four (4) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Twenty Thousand

Transcription

1 Handout 3 Perfection of Wisdom Contents EXPLANATORY METHOD OF THE FIVE LIMBS... 3 Extensive, Middling and Brief sutras... 3 FIVE LIMBS Limb of PURPOSE Limb of SUMMARY Limb of LITERAL MEANING Limb of CONNECTING-TRANSITIONAL PASSAGES Limb of OBJECTIONS & RESPONSES Twenty-One (21) Indian Commentaries on the Ornament for Clear Realization translated into Tibetan... 6 Twelve (12) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with Perfection of Wisdom Sutras... 6 Four (4) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Twenty Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra:... 6 Three (3) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Eight Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra:... 7 Three (3) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Condensed Perfection of Wisdom Sutra:... 7 Nine (9) Indian Commentaries Do Not Correlate the Ornament with Perfection of Wisdom Sutras... 7 Three Objects of Homage by Tibetan Translators of Indian texts... 8 Four Ornaments Meaning of Four Analogies... 8 Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra's Commentary Clarifying Meaning of the Ornament for Clear Realizations (known as, Clear Meaning)... 8 Stanza Revealing Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning:... 8 Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning commentary:... 9 Four (4) Properties of the Stanza revealing the 4 Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning commentary:... 9

2 2

3 3 EXPLANATORY METHOD OF THE FIVE LIMBS for the ORNAMENT FOR CLEAR REALIZATION Extensive, Middling and Brief sutras The Extensive, Middling and Brief Perfection of Wisdom Sutras 1 are said to be the principal sutra sources for the Ornament for Clear Realization (see, last section of HANDOUT 2). What method does the Ornament for Clear Realization use to explain the meaning of these sutras? The Ornament for Clear Realization explains their meaning by way of a methodology called the Explanatory Method of the Five Limbs. The Five Limbs Explanatory Method aids the understanding of the commentator and the listener. Once the Ornament s trainees have understood the purpose of its composition, etc., they enter into their study, contemplation, and meditation of the Ornament for Clear Realization. FIVE LIMBS 1) Purpose. 2) Summary. 3) Literal Meaning. 4) Connecting-Transitional Passages. 5) Objections & Responses 1. Limb of PURPOSE The purpose of the Ornament for Clear Realization is to enable students to easily understand the meaning of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. The verses of the Ornament for Clear Realization that reveal its purpose: The path of the exalted knower of all aspects itself, Explained by the Teacher in these [mothers], Is not experienced by others. The entity of the ten Dharma practices The Sutras, through establishing mindfulness [on them], In order for the intelligent to behold their meaning, The so-called 'easy realization' Is the purpose of [my] composing [the Ornament]. 2. Limb of SUMMARY The summary of the Ornament for Clear Realization consists of an enumeration of the Eight Realizations and the 70 Topics. 1 Respectively, the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras in One Hundred Thousand, Twenty Thousand, and Eight Thousand Verses.

4 4 The verses of the Ornament for Clear Realization that reveal its summary: The Perfection of Wisdom Is perfectly explained by the Eight Categories. The very Exalted Knower of All Aspects, the very Knower of Paths itself, Then the very Knower of All. Clear Complete Realization of All Aspects, and Gone to the Peak, Serially, Clear Complete Enlightenment in One Moment, and the Truth Body: these are the eight. Mind generation and instruction, Four types of Limbs of Definite Discrimination, the Nature of the Realm of Dharma, which is the support of achieving, Referents and intent, and Armor, Activities of engaging, and Collections, and Definite Issuance: These together are the Subduer s very exalted Knower of All Aspects. Eclipsing and so forth, Those Paths of disciples [Hearers] and Rhinoceroses, Path of Seeing great benefit of qualities of this and other [lives], Activity and belief and Praise and Veneration and Admiration, Dedication and Rejoicing, Unsurpassed attention and Achieving, and the so-called Extremely Pure is the Path of Meditation; The wise bodhisattva masters' Knower of Paths is explained like that. Through knowledge, non-abiding in [cyclic] existence; Through compassion, non-abiding in peace; Through non-skill, distant; Through skill, not distant; Classes of the discordant and antidote, Training and the very equality of that and the Path of Seeing like that of Hearers and so forth, asserted as Knower of all [Bases] itself. Aspects along with their trainings and Excellent qualities and faults along with their characteristics,

5 5 Similitudes of liberation and definite discrimination, Assembly of irreversible learners, The very equality of [cyclic] existence and peace, Highest pure realm, Skill in means along with this the Clear Complete Realization of All Aspects. Signs of that and full increase, Stability and thoroughly abiding mind, with regard to individuals Called Seeing and Meditation Paths, Four types of antidotes to Four types of preconceptions, Uninterrupted meditative stabilization Along with perverse achieving Clear Realization of the Peak. Serially: Three types, Ten types. Four types by way of the characteristic of manifest Complete Enlightenment in One Moment. Nature [body] along with complete enjoyment [body], Likewise others, the Emanation [body], the Truth Body along with the activities the Four types [of bodies] are perfectly set out." 3. Limb of LITERAL MEANING The literal meaning of the Ornament for Clear Realization consists of its main body: Verses of the Ornament for Clear Realization beginning from: "Mind generation: the desire for perfect complete enlightenment for the benefit of others... through the end of the Ornament. 4. Limb of CONNECTING-TRANSITIONAL PASSAGES. The connection between former and latter parts of the Ornament for Clear Realization is dependent on the connecting passages. Those passages establish the logical order of the different sections and topics. An example of a line from the Ornament for Clear Realization that reveals a connecting-transitional passage is: Then the very knower of all,

6 6 5. Limb of OBJECTIONS & RESPONSES. Objections and responses establish that the explanations of the Ornament for Clear Realization are logical and that earlier and later sections of the text do not contradict each other. An example of a verse from the Ornament for Clear Realization that reveals an objection and response is: Because inseparable in the sphere of dharma, different lineages are not suitable. By particulars of supported dharmas, their divisions are proclaimed. Twenty-One (21) Indian Commentaries on the Ornament for Clear Realization translated into Tibetan Of the twenty-one (21) commentaries by Indian scholar-saints on the Ornament for Clear Realizations: Twelve (12) commentaries correlate the Ornament with the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras; and Nine (9) commentaries do not correlate the Ornament with any of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. Twelve (12) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with Perfection of Wisdom Sutras Four (4) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Twenty Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra: 1. Arya [Vimuktisena s] Light for the Twenty Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. 2. Venerable [Bhadanta Vimuktisena s] Commentary on the Twenty Thousand. 3. Acharya Haribhadra s [Seng ge bzang po] Twenty Thousand in Eight Chapters. 4. Shantipa s [Ratnakara s] Twenty Thousand Possessing Purity.

7 7 Three (3) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Eight Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra: 5. Acharya Haribhadra s Illumination of the Ornament. 6. Shantipa s Supreme Essence. 7. Abhayai s Essential Moons Rays. Three (3) Indian Commentaries Correlate the Ornament with the Condensed Perfection of Wisdom Sutra: 8. Buddhajnanakrama s Commentary on the Difficult Points of the Condensed [sutra]. 9. Haribhadra s [Lobon] Easily Realized Commentary on the Condensed. 10. The Key to the Treasury of Prajnaparamita renowned to be composed by the Kashmiri Dharma Shiri. One (1) Indian Commentary Correlates the Ornament with the Hundred Thousand Stanza Perfection of Wisdom Sutra: 11. Kashmiri Dharmashri s Commentary on the Hundred Thousand. One (1) Indian Commentary Correlates the Ornament with the Hundred Thousand Stanza the Twenty Thousand, the Eighty Thousand Perfection of Wisdom Sutras: 12. Miti s Commentary that Establishes that the Three Perfection of Wisdom Sutras are the Same in Terms of the Eight Clear Realizations. Nine (9) Indian Commentaries Do Not Correlate the Ornament with Perfection of Wisdom Sutras 1. Haribhadra s [Lobon] Brief Commentary. 2. Dharmamitra s Clear Word, a commentary on the Small Commentary. 3. Suvarnadvipa s [gser gling-pa] Illumination of the Difficult Points to Realize. 4. Jowo Atisha s Condensed Meaning. 5. Kashmiri Shrikumara s [Shonnu Pal] Condensed Meaning. 6. Prajnakaramati s [Shechung Lodro] Condensed Meaning. 7. Ratnakirti s Renowned Parts. 8. Abhaya-karagupta s Ornament to the Thought of the Conqueror. 9. Buddhashri s Rosary of the Lamp of Wisdom.

8 8 Three Objects of Homage by Tibetan Translators of Indian texts Basket Main Subject Object of Homage Sutra Concentration Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Abidharma Wisdom Manjushri Vinaya Morality Omniscient Mind Four Ornaments Meaning of Four Analogies Ornament Analogous (example) Means: Natural Beautifying Clarifying Joy naturally beautiful woman Earrings, bracelets, flowers, etc. Mirror (that displays beauty of an adorned woman) Joy of trainees Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (excellent corpus of the Mothers) Eight Clear Realizations & 70 Topics Ornament for Clear Realizations, a mirror that displays/reflects the entire meaning of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras by way of the Beautifying Ornaments (Eight Clear Realizations & 70 Topics). Trainees, engaging in the Ornament for Clear Realizations, generate joy and appreciation for the Natural & Beautifying Ornaments. Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra's Commentary Clarifying Meaning of the Ornament for Clear Realizations (known as, Clear Meaning) Stanza Revealing Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning: To the perfection of wisdom Respectfully I pay homage In order to thoroughly reveal its versified Ornament As serving as an ornament of all.

9 9 Four (4) Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning commentary: SUBJECT MATTER reveals the meaning of the sutras and root treatise (Ornament for Clear Realization) PURPOSE understanding, in dependence on it, that the root treatise serves as an ornament for the three Mothers. ESSENTIAL PURPOSE in dependence on that purpose, one will eventually attain omniscience. RELATIONSHIP essential purpose is related to purpose, purpose is related to subject matter. Four (4) Properties of the Stanza revealing the 4 Properties of Haribhadra s Clear Meaning commentary: SUBJECT MATTER reveals the four properties of the Clear Meaning commentary. PURPOSE to realize that the Clear Meaning commentary has four properties. ESSENTIAL PURPOSE to engage in (study, contemplation and meditation on) the Clear Meaning commentary. RELATIONSHIP essential purpose is related to purpose, purpose is related to subject matter. each property is related to the former.